Recovering the Asoleado: A Heritage of the Rainfed of Maule Valley

To explore the possibility of repositioning “asoleado” in the national market, historical background information on its production and its connection with the commune of Cauquenes, as well as the current climate conditions in that area, were gathered. Simultaneously, an effort was made to characterize the current state of its production and potential projections through a semi-structured survey. The results indicated that the production of “asoleado” remains in its area of origin and surrounding areas, mainly associated with small producers of País (cv. Listán Prieto) grapes. Most producers are motivated by commercial reasons, although there is also a significant component linked to heritage preservation and family and emotional connection. Regarding the wine itself, there is a diversity of production styles and qualities, ranging from those that do not meet minimum conditions to others that stand out for their quality and selling price. While the historical and heritage character of “asoleado,” not to mention its organoleptic characteristics, are interesting for the domestic market, it is necessary to guarantee the quality of wines using the “asoleado” designation of origin (D.O.). Only then can this traditional product be an alternative to appreciate the century-old dry-farmed País vineyards and support the viticulturists behind it.